Contact embarks on 'wondrous journey'

Move over Will Smith, there's more to outer space movies than just kicking some extra-terrestrial butt.

Contact stars Jodie Foster as Dr. Eleanor (Ellie) Arroway, a dedicated radio-astronomer who discovers an alien transmission from the Vega star system. The transmission, mathematical in form, contains blueprints for the construction of an interstellar spacecraft so the two worlds can make contact.

Foster's portrayal is one of her best. She brings a sense of vulnerability to this hard nosed, facts-only astronomer who lacks faith.

The film is a wondrous journey of discovery and the realization that true vision is the union of fact and faith.

Academy Award-winner Robert Zemeckis,ofForrest Gump fame, directs the film which is based on Carl Sagan's novel of the same name.

The film also stars Matthew McConaughey as Palmer Joss, a respected religious scholar and top-level government advisor who falls in love with Ellie.

Then there is that character audiences just love to hate. In this case, it's David Drumlin (Tom Skerrit), Ellie's former mentor, who steals the credit for her discovery. He also becomes her main competitor in the selection of the planet's single representative for the mission to the Vega star system.

John Hurt gives a chilling performance as S.R. Hadden, a mysterious billionaire who helps Ellie accomplish her dream of being Earth's representative on the journey into the unknown.

James Woods and Angela Bassett deliver wonderful supporting performances. And President Bill Clinton portrays himself, well sort of. Zemeckis works his computer animation magic once again to create scenes where Clinton addresses the transmission and the need for people to stay calm and focused. These scenes help to add credibility to the story.

One thing that I have to say is that it was very refreshing to have a movie about an alien civilization whose sole purpose isn't to destroy the world.

In fact, the alien life force takes the form of Ellie's father Ted Arroway (David Morse) to make her feel more comfortable with her experience. While the alien world takes on the appearance of a drawing she made as a child of Pensacola, Fla.

Contact far exceeded my expectations and is definitely one of the best movies released this year.